It’s Series Everyone’s Awaited

The Chicago Bulls against the Orlando Magic is the most awaited matchup of the playoffs.

It’s the best young team, the only surviving team from last season’s Finals, the team that many say will be the next dynasty, against the best old team, the only team that stands in the way of the Magic taking over for the rest of the decade.

The Bulls are the oldest team left in the playoffs - actually, the oldest team in the NBA this season.

The Magic has the youngest starting five of the four remaining teams, and was the youngest even when eight teams were left.

“I think the Bulls will win,” said Knicks forward Charles Oakley. “Orlando is a good team and if they see the way we played the Bulls and play them like that, they have a chance. But they have to realize it’s no party. It should be interesting.”

There’s more than meets the eye at stake when the teams open their series Sunday in Chicago at 12:30 p.m. Here’s a look at the key matchups and considerations, with Chicago Tribune writer Sam Smith providing the commentary:

Go-to guy: Michael Jordan vs. Shaquille O’Neal

Jordan is the ultimate finisher in the NBA, maybe the most feared player ever with the ball in his hands in the last minute. In many respects, O’Neal is just as feared with the ball in his hands at the end of a game. But more by his teammates. O’Neal made fewer than half his free throws this season.

Edge: Chicago

Power forward: Dennis Rodman vs. Horace Grant

Rodman is the power forward everyone in Chicago hated until this season. Grant is the power forward everyone in Chicago loved until last season. Rodman had 10 offensive rebounds in one game against the Knicks. Grant had 29 points and 20 rebounds in one game against the Hawks. Grant talks with Scottie Pippen more than Rodman does.

Edge: Orlando

Experience: James Edwards vs. Tree Rollins

Edwards is older than some of the Magic’s assistant coaches. Rollins is older than some of the trees in Orlando.

Edge: Chicago

Toughness: Michael Jordan vs. Anthony

Bonner The Knicks said Jordan was among the most physical players in the league and a proponent of excessive elbowing. Bonner played for the Knicks and is not yet in prison.

Edge: Even

International influence: Toni Kukoc, Luc Longley and Bill Wennington vs. Joe Wolf

Kukoc was voted sixth man of the year, Wennington hit two crucial shots that won Game 4 vs. the Knicks and Longley battles great players at center. All left Europe to make their fortunes here. Wolf left his Wisconsin Dairy Queen to aid the Magic.

Edge: Chicago

Pick: Bulls in six.

Finally, Robinson gets tough

The usually cool-headed David Robinson has been in a feud with referee Steve Javie this spring.

And it culminated with Robinson’s verbal jab at Javie after the Spurs lost to the Utah Jazz in their Western Conference playoff series Thursday.

The All-Star center criticized Javie for calling him for a third foul, a charging call 14 seconds into the second quarter.

Robinson, held to 17 points, played only 29 minutes because of foul trouble as the Jazz beat the Spurs 108-81 to win the best-of-seven semifinal series in six games.

“I thought that call by Steve Javie was garbage and I think it was personal,” Robinson said.

Mason hospitalized

Anthony Mason was admitted to Beth Israel North Division hospital Friday morning for treatment of a persistent migraine the New York Knicks forward had been suffering from for two days.

Mason went through a series of tests and was possibly going to remain overnight for observation, his mother, Mary Mason, said. Mason had been hospitalized for the same ailment last summer, a Knicks official said.

“The doctor told me it was nothing to be alarmed about,” Mary Mason said. “He had been in pain the last two days and decided to finally go in and do something about it.”